Many drivers have started using dash cameras, commonly known as dash cams, to record their rides while driving. This practice serves multiple purposes, including providing evidence for injury claims, streamlining claims processes, and ensuring compliance with regulations. In this article, we’ll explore the reasons why drivers use dash cams and the considerations they need to take into account, particularly in the context of passenger privacy and data protection such us blurring faces and license plates in the captured videos.
Why Do Taxi Drivers Use Dash Cams?
Dash cam footage plays a vital role in injury claims that involve drivers and passengers. When an accident occurs, the recorded video can serve as valuable evidence to determine what transpired and who might be at fault. This evidence is especially beneficial when the details of the incident are disputed, as the video provides an unbiased account of the events.
Additionally, dash cam footage expedites the claims process. Instead of relying solely on verbal accounts of the incident, insurance companies can review the video to assess the situation accurately. This speeds up the resolution of claims, benefiting both drivers and passengers.
Stats about Dash cams usage (top picks) :
- The market in Europe is expected to grow by another 18% by 2026.
- In the UK, one out of every five vehicles now uses a dash cam.
- The North American Dashboard Camera Market is set to grow by 15.4% every year until 2027.
- Using a dash camera has led to a 60% decrease in incidents.
Are your Dash cam GDPR compliant ?
For taxi drivers and other vehicle operators, adhering to regulations is crucial to ensure a safe and respectful experience for passengers. Here are some important guidelines to follow:
- Company Dash Cam Policy: Establish a clear and comprehensive policy regarding the use of dash cams. If you already have a policy on using, storing, or processing personal data, make sure to incorporate dash cam usage into it.
- 2Data Storage Duration: Determine the length of time for which you will store dash cam footage. It’s important not to retain data for longer than necessary to maintain passenger privacy and data protection.
- Communication: Communicate your dash cam policy to all users of vehicles equipped with dash cams. Passengers should be aware that they are being recorded during their ride.
- Public Notification: Inform the public that your vehicles are equipped with dashboard cameras. A simple decal on each vehicle can serve as a notice.
- Secure Storage: Ensure that all video footage and photographs are securely stored. Only authorized personnel who have undergone proper data protection training should have access to this footage.
What about Passenger Privacy and Data Protection ?
While dash cams offer benefits, they also raise concerns about passenger privacy and compliance with data protection regulations, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
- Personal Use Exemption: If drivers are using dash cams for personal purposes, they are exempted from certain GDPR requirements. However, when dash cams are used for business purposes, regulations come into play.
- Subject Access Requests: Passengers have the right to access any data that companies hold about them, including dash cam footage. This right is protected by a law known as Subject Access Requests. If a passenger discovers that they were recorded and wishes to access the data, companies must provide a straightforward and cost-free method for obtaining it.
In scenarios where privacy matters, BlurIt is an excellent choice for businesses and taxi drivers. Our solution quickly and accurately applies automatic blurring to faces in recorded videos. Besides recognizing and blurring faces, it can also detect and blur license plates in images and videos, providing comprehensive privacy protection. This versatile approach ensures sensitive information remains secure while allowing seamless navigation of privacy-conscious situations, establishing BlurIt as an indispensable asset for a wide range of applications.